The women’s singles figure skating event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing concluded with a dramatic and highly scrutinized podium. Anna Shcherbakova won the gold medal, Alexandra Trusova claimed the silver medal, and Kaori Sakamoto earned the bronze medal, completing an unforgettable competition defined by technical innovation and intense global attention.
Introduction to the Beijing 2022 Women’s Figure Skating Competition
The women’s singles figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China, remains one of the most talked-about events in modern sports history. Hosted at the Capital Indoor Stadium, the competition took place across two distinct segments: the short program on February 15 and the free skate on February 17, 2022. Skaters from around the globe converged to perform under the auspices of the International Skating Union (ISU) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), showcasing a high-stakes blend of artistic interpretation, skating skills, and high-difficulty jump elements.
The competitive landscape leading into the 2022 Games was heavily dominated by athletes representing the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), alongside top contenders from Japan, the United States, and other global skating powerhouses. The technical ceiling of the discipline had risen dramatically over the preceding four-year Olympic cycle, with multiple skaters successfully landing quadruple jumps in international competition. This progression shifted the strategic calculus of both short and free programs, placing immense pressure on execution, jump rotation validity, and component scores.
Beyond the athletic feats, the event drew unprecedented global scrutiny due to intense media attention, complex judging panels, and the dramatic emotional reactions of the competitors following the conclusion of the free skate. Understanding the final outcome requires examining the specific performances, historical context, and scoring breakdowns of the three athletes who secured the medals.
Gold Medalist: Anna Shcherbakova
Anna Shcherbakova of the Russian Olympic Committee captured the gold medal with a total combined score of 255.95 points. Known for her remarkable composure under pressure, exceptional consistency, and delicate artistic presentation, Shcherbakova delivered two clean, technically sophisticated programs that ultimately secured her the top step of the podium.
Short Program Performance
During the short program on February 15, Shcherbakova skated a clean and poised routine to music composed by Kirill Richter. Her execution included a double axel, a triple lutz, and a combination triple flip-triple loop. While her technical base value was slightly lower than some of her peers who attempted more complex elements in the short program, her execution grades of execution (GOE) and program component scores (PCS) reflected high marks for precision, transitions, and musicality. She earned 80.20 points for this segment, placing her in second position heading into the decisive free skate.
Free Skate Execution
Shcherbakova’s free skate on February 17 to music from The Master and Margarita and The Firebird proved to be the performance that won her the gold. Opting for a strategic layout, she successfully executed two quadruple lutzes—one in combination with a triple toe loop and another as a solo jump. Although she did not attempt a quadruple flip or a quadruple toe loop like her compatriot Alexandra Trusova, Shcherbakova's clean landing of her planned quads, combined with flawless execution of her later triple jumps including a triple lutz-triple loop combination, earned her a free skate score of 175.75 points.
Career Context and Legacy
Shcherbakova’s victory in Beijing added an Olympic gold medal to an already stellar resume that included the 2021 World Championship title and multiple Russian national championships. Her ability to peak precisely at major international championships, coupled with her renowned mental resilience in high-stress environments, cemented her status as one of the defining figures of the quadrennial.
Silver Medalist: Alexandra Trusova
Alexandra Trusova, also competing for the Russian Olympic Committee, won the silver medal with a total score of 251.73 points. Trusova is widely recognized as a pioneer of women's technical progression, credited with pushing the boundaries of the sport by successfully integrating multiple quadruple jumps into a single routine.
Short Program and Technical Ambition
Trusova entered the free skate trailing after the short program, where she scored 74.60 points. In her short program to Frida, she attempted a triple axel—a notoriously difficult element for her—but suffered a fall, which significantly impacted her technical score and left her in fourth place after the first day of competition. Despite this setback, her foundational jump content remained among the most formidable in the field.
Historic Free Skate Layout
Trusova’s free skate performance on February 17 is etched into figure skating history. Skating to music from Cruella, she executed an unprecedented five quadruple jumps in a single program: a quadruple flip, a quadruple salchow, a quadruple toe loop, another quadruple toe loop in a sequence with a double axel, and a quadruple lutz.
While some of her landings required step-outs or were reviewed for minor edge or rotation discrepancies by the technical panel, the sheer physical achievement of attempting and landing multiple quads redefined the technical expectations of women's singles skating. She earned the highest free skate score of the night with 177.13 points, propelling her from fourth place up to the silver medal position.
Impact on the Sport
Trusova's relentless pursuit of maximum technical difficulty altered how coaches and athletes approach training regimens. By proving that multiple quadruple jumps could be performed on Olympic ice under maximum pressure, she permanently shifted the conversation around physical capability and risk management in elite women's skating.
Bronze Medalist: Kaori Sakamoto
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan earned the bronze medal with a total score of 233.13 points. Known for her blazing speed across the ice, massive jump height, and powerful, athletic skating style, Sakamoto delivered two flawless, consistent performances that capitalized on clean execution and high component valuations.
Short Program Execution
Sakamoto performed a vibrant and polished short program to music from Gladiator, executing a double axel, a triple lutz, and a triple flip-triple toe loop combination. Her speed into jumps and powerful ice coverage yielded strong positive grades of execution. She scored 79.84 points, placing her in a strong third position after the short program and positioning her well for a podium finish.
Free Skate Performance
In the free skate, skated to music from the No Time to Die soundtrack, Sakamoto maintained her composure and delivered a nearly flawless program. She opened with a massive double axel, followed by a triple lutz, a triple loop, and a double axel-triple toe loop combination.
Unlike the ROC skaters, Sakamoto did not incorporate quadruple jumps into her layout; instead, she relied on exceptional execution, deep edge work, and flawless timing. Her commitment to speed and clean landings earned her a free skate score of 153.29 points, cementing her total score securely in third place and earning Japan its first Olympic women's singles medal since Mao Asada's silver in 2010.
Significance of the Bronze
Sakamoto's bronze medal underscored the viability of a competitive strategy centered on pristine execution, high-grade triple jumps, and exceptional skating skills rather than high-risk quadruple elements. Her consistency across the entire Olympic season established her as a pillar of reliability for the Japanese skating federation.
Comparative Overview of the Beijing 2022 Podium
The podium at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics showcased distinct approaches to elite figure skating, balancing high-risk technical innovation with refined execution and speed.
| Medal | Athlete | Nation | Short Program Score | Free Skate Score | Total Score | Key Technical Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Anna Shcherbakova | ROC | 80.20 | 175.75 | 255.95 | Dual quadruple lutzes, clean triple combinations |
| Silver | Alexandra Trusova | ROC | 74.60 | 177.13 | 251.73 | Historic five-quadruple jump free skate layout |
| Bronze | Kaori Sakamoto | Japan | 79.84 | 153.29 | 233.13 | Maximum speed, flawless triple jumps, superior PCS |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in women's figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Anna Shcherbakova of the Russian Olympic Committee won the gold medal in the women's singles figure skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, accumulating a total score of 255.95 points across the short program and free skate.
How many quadruple jumps did Alexandra Trusova perform?
Alexandra Trusova performed a historic five quadruple jumps during her free skate routine in Beijing. Her layout included a quadruple flip, a quadruple salchow, two quadruple toe loops, and a quadruple lutz, setting a new benchmark for technical content in women's competition.
What was unique about Kaori Sakamoto's performance?
Kaori Sakamoto earned the bronze medal without attempting any quadruple jumps. Her success was built on exceptional speed, powerful jump height, immaculate edge quality, and clean execution of triple elements, which yielded high grades of execution and strong program component scores.
What scoring system was used at the 2022 Winter Olympics?
The competition utilized the ISU Judging System (IJS), where total scores are calculated by adding the Technical Element Score (TES)—which evaluates the base value and execution grade of every jump, spin, and step sequence—to the Program Component Score (PCS), which judges skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, and interpretation.
What was the controversy surrounding the 2022 women's figure skating event?
The event drew intense global media coverage and scrutiny regarding coaching environments, age limits, judging transparency, and the psychological impact of elite-level competition on teenage athletes, leading subsequent ISU congresses to vote on raising the senior age eligibility minimum from 15 to 17 years old.
Next Actions and Further Exploration
For researchers, fans, and analysts looking to deepen their understanding of elite figure skating, reviewing official International Skating Union protocols provides clear insights into how technical panels evaluate jump rotations and edge validity. Examining official competition sheets from the 2022 Beijing Games on the ISU results portal offers a granular breakdown of element-by-element scoring, judges' marks, and detailed protocol data.
